Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner cautioned for criminal damage to private gym door as he and friends tried to go for late night swim

Arsenal footballer Nicklas Bendtner has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage at his luxury apartment block.

The 25-year-old striker was held by police in Hertfordshire yesterday in connection with damage to an apartment building where he lives in the Bushey area.

Police said Bendtner has been cautioned - meaning he will not be required to attend court.

In a statement, Hertfordshire Police said: “A 25-year-old man from Bushey has been cautioned for criminal damage and is no longer in custody.

“He was arrested in connection with an incident which occurred at an address in The Avenue, Bushey, in the early hours of November 24.”

Bendtner tweeted a statement today saying: “On Saturday night after our win against Southampton I went out with my family and friends for dinner. After our dinner we all wanted a night swim in my gym so we changed to shorts and brought towels down.

“As we arrived at the gym my key fob changed the colour from red (locked) to green (open) by the door remained closed.

“We thought the door was stuck so we tried to open it and it caused some damage.

“I apologised for any inconvenience for my neighbours and I have paid in full.

“We had no part in damaging anything else in the building."

Caution: Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner
The footballer, who is currently dating Danish model and actress Julie Zangenberg, concluded his statement saying: “The matter is closed with the police and my focus is on tonight’s match.”

Bendtner and Zangenberg have been together two years, since shortly after Bendtner's split from wealthy Danish baroness Caroline Luel-Brockdorff. He reportedly left Baroness Caroline just seven weeks after the birth of their child in 2011.

A spokeswoman for Arsenal said of the weekend's events: “As a club we do not comment on players’ private matters, however we do expect the highest standards to be maintained on and off the pitch and will be reminding Nicklas of this.”

The Denmark international, a bit-part player with the current Premier League leaders, has scored 45 goals for the Gunners in 164 appearances since making his debut for the club in the 2005/06 season.

But despite early promise, the misfit striker has struggled to seize his opportunity at Arsenal, being loaned out to a succession of clubs including Sunderland, Birmingham City and Italian club Juventus.

In June last year, Bendtner was handed a one-match ban and fined 100,000 euros by Uefa for lowering his shorts after scoring twice in his country’s European Championship defeat to Portugal.

He was found guilty of improper conduct for his reaction to his second goal in the 3-2 Group B defeat, when he exposed underwear bearing a bookmaker’s logo - with the company picking up the tab for the fine.